Ask the booth…

With today’s game on dodgers.com/mlb.com exclusively, we decided to utilize the email address askthebooth@ladodgers.com, which is usually utilized by Ken Levine and Josh Suchon during DodgerTalk on KABC.

Rick and Charley mentioned the address in the first inning and immediately had 30 questions. The next time I dropped by the booth, it was over 100. So it’s good to know you’re out there listening…and asking questions. I’m not quite sure how or if we’ll utilize this during the season, as it’s much easier to veer off the subject of the game during Spring Training, but it’s been an interesting experiment to say the least.

Did I tell you all that I am going to the home opener in San Diego?! I am excited about that! .
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did you all know that I did not see a single win at Camelback Ranch? I saw 7 games at Camelback Ranch in my four trips there. The only win I saw was at the Milwaukee facility
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

Dig, One of my friend that I have been going to Camelback Ranch iwill be on Spring Breakjso on our way back to Cali, we decided that it would be fun to go to the San Diego home opener. My boss signed my vacation slip today but I’ll have the work pc in case someone needs something from me. I work in the IT department so sometimes we get calls at odd hours that we have to signon to the system.

Thanks Dig!!
I have never been to a home opener other than at Dodger Stadium so this will be a new experience for me.
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My first Home opener was in 1981 when Jerry Reuss could not start and Fernando was put in his place. What an incredible day and year that was.
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

I will be back in Virginia this next week so I wouldn’t be able to go to the SD game. Have fun everyone who is going. I’ll be listening to the game on my computer. Lately it seems I am living out of my suitcase or my backpack. I was in Camelback twice in March and now I’m going back east. I am planning on going back east again for 2 weeks in June and possibly a few days in May. Yikes. Should I even unpack my suitcase?

Great game today…Dodgers and D’back’s….I thought McDonald looked pretty good….Ohman not so good but he’s been out of action….I’m sure he will come around…I Hope….Either what can i say :) He was awesome….Same goes for DeWitt,Kemp,Loney,C. Blake hit a towering shot today…….Sunny day today

Tomorrow — April 1 — is D-Day for Conficker, as whatever nasty payload it’s packing is currently set to activate. What happens come midnight is a mystery: Will it turn the millions of infected computers into spam-sending zombie robots? Or will it start capturing everything you type — passwords, credit card numbers, etc. — and send that information back to its masters?

Hey i’m not saying you are ok lol….I’m just giving you what could come that’s all….I hope everything is ok….I really need to come out to LA and see a game but i would like to meet some of you to go to a game

They took a poll to find out what fans are most concerned with. #1 was the price to go to a ballgame.

And some of the player quotes are somewhat out of touch with the reality of the Average American. Especially this gem from Mike (not Mark) Sweeney:

“In light of the economic status of our country, there are many blue-collar Americans that probably won’t be able to afford taking their son out to a ballgame, and that’s understandable,” Sweeney said.

WHAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE ABOUT THAT?!!

This game was built on fathers taking their sons (or if you want to be PC, parents taking their children) to a ballgame, which was usually among the “Best Buy in Town®” in a given area. Then, when they went home, they could have a game of catch, or pick up a bat and play Pepper, or some other way that they could make the game their own.

That is how the game of Baseball became an intergral part of America’s psyche. It’s silly to me that capital-b Baseball would let prices balloon in light of Football quckly usurping the sport as the “National Pastime”, not to mention the myriad of other options kids have these days. Most kids with TV’s have at least 100 channels of entertainment before they leave their room.

If Baseball allows ticket prices to break that link between parent and child, there will be a dark future for this sport. Perhaps not apocolyptic, but enough to make people think twice about glorifying a multi-millionaire who gets paid to knock some twine and cowhide around.

The game is better than this, but unfortunately, we have a Commisioner who is too out of touch within his own sport to even have a prayer of comprehending how close he is to losing the Average Joe as a reliable die-hard fan in these tough times.

Not that I don’t want players to get paid, or a return to the indentured servitude that passed for players salaries pre-Marvin Miller (oops, I owe Walter O’Malley a dollar). Perhaps it’s time for that pendulum to swing towards the middle of those two extremes.

Now that ST is basically over and the starting quintet shapes up to be Kuroda, Wolf, Billz, Kersh and Mac, here’s how I see the PB shaking down:

Weaver, Mota (a pleasant surprise so far), Kuo, Wade, Brox, Belisario/Lindblom, and Sturtze/Mazone. Mazone’s earned a spot, but if they want to keep him around as insurance in the minors, then Sturtze would be quite expendable to be DFA’d in 8 days when Ohman’s ready to join the club. If they want to expose Mazone to a waiver claim, then he could actually be useful for 2-3 games. Sturtze I wouldn’t even let in a game unless we were already losing by 10 and it could save a couple innings from somebody else.

Right now though I think you have to use Mota/Wade as set-up for Brox. Kuo just hasn’t found it yet.

I don’t however believe the pitching will be as bad as we’ve seen in AZ. I think you can take 1.00 off of every ERA just moving from the dry desert to DS.

Should be an interesting season. This team has the potential to run away and hide, but it also has the potential to be in the midst of the pack.

Good morning, Enchanted. I’m really excited to get the season started. I, like you, don’t believe the pitching will be as bad as in ST. Charlie and Rick were talking about it during yesteday’s game. saying that the pitchers may be asked to only work on a certain pitch, not a variety of pitches in order to put the batter away.

Enchanted – ESPN last night was doing a rundown of the NL West, and they are predicting the Dodgers first with a 9 game lead……..and the gnats are predicted to be 2nd…..hmmm! I know it’s all speculation because the one factor that can never be determined is injuries, and one injury to a pitcher on any of our teams in this division will have a huge impact to that ball club.

Cross out six letters and you’ll find a word that we should know. The word must be spelled out in order. SBAIXNLETATNERSAS
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Bananas. The letters you needed to cross out were: (S-I-X-L-E-T-T-E-R-S)

I wasn’t for bringing back Saito because of his age and suspect arm, but if you were going to bring in the likes of Estes, Milton, Vargas and Sturtze, why wouldn’t you bring back Saito? At least when Sammy was right you knew he could pitch. These guys coudn’t pitch to begin with, let alone 5-6 years past their glory day (and yes I meant to say day.)

I know they signed Estes and Milton to minor league contracts, but would you even want them in the minors taking up innings from even marginal prospects? I couldn’t imagine starting either one above High A in San Bernardino.

Nice outing for Milton – 8 ER in 2.1 innings. Uncle Milty tried to use reverse psychology pitching this spring. He started out fairly OK early on, then progressively (and exponentially) got worse. Estes has been consistent – he stunk from day 1. Sturtze’s the gambler’s choice. You never know if he’s going to roll a 1 or a 6.

We play so many games against divisional opponents Joe didn’t want them to see our “real” pitchers, so he used the crap of the crop. Boy will they be surprised when they actually play us during the season!!!

Goodbye Uncle Milty and Estes…Our starting pitching is thin, we do not have much room for error….Elbert needs to develop quickly in AAA…Lindblom, it is asking alot but he has been impressive..Put a package together to get Doc Halladay…Yes we will have to give up some young guys, but folks Doc is a real ace who has dominated in the AL East…in the NL he may win 25 games…

I know you have to give up something of value to get someone with a record like Halladay, but there is no way that I’d give up both Kersh and Andre for anybody. Not enough known about Ethan Martin at this stage, but Kersh and Andre are both good enough to equal a Halladay each in their own right with another couple of years experience.

Bear, I agree. But the bidding for Halladay, if he is put on the market, will be very high. Halladay would be an exception to the rule most baseball people are expecting this summer. They are saying the vast majority of players available will create a buyers market…but not Halladay, if he becomes available.

Dejesus would be a wild card based on his medical reports, hopefully they will let Conte read the X rays…Hell if he can get Schmidt 52 mil, why cant he pawn off DeJesus…DeJesus is not really needed with Furcal at SS for the next 3 years and Dewitt ready for 2B.

ramslover ~ if a team were to pick up Wells with his huge contract, then it would cost less in players. But there will be several teams bidding for him. My guess would be the Texas Rangers would be the leading team to get him.
trublu ~ I agree. To make a deal with Halladay worth what you would have to give up you’d want to extend his contract. I’d rather not go down that road with an arm with that many innings in it.

Dig, you saw a high powered offense in Ogden, I like this Delmonico kid, his bat will translate and they will find a position for him…I think most of those kids will be with the Great Lake Loons..they need a high powered offense, because they could not hit a lick last year except Lambo,…Man I am getting geeked up…Opening day cannot get here quick enough….

Vetters is older too, if I remember right. I don’t recall Buss, sorry. Kyle Russell has incredible power. He hit a couple of bombs when we were there. But he seemed to stike out a lot. Tim Wallach’s and Robin Yount’s kids played here too. Wallach, a catcher. looked pretty good.

I would not touch Cliff Lee, he won me my fantasy league last year but he is so up and down…I would not be surprised to see him have a 5.00 era …would love beckett but I cannot see boston letting him leave…he is still young…

Tru I am with you…Bob Welch was 20 or 21 when he came up and he did just fine..Fernando was 20, so it is possible …Lindblom, I was in Midland last year when he got drafted and got the chance to see him, he is a big strong kid and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders…I know Busty (Great LAKES manager) was impressed with him.

LOL!!! digthedodgers – yes, in all honesty, I do believe that he wants to play for the dbacks eventually, and with the way the Dodgers, as an organization has treated him, I am not going to blame him when he does. I will hate it, but I will certainly understand it. Even in the midst of the chaos last season with JP and Andruw, I would have rather seen Andre traded then to see him sit the bench in order to appease a pro-veteran manager at the time, who seemed dead set on sticking with JP and Andruw. Injuries happened and changed Andre’s fate, but if it weren’t for the injuries, he would have sat the bench the majority of last season or would have been traded IMO.

Let’s hope for the best…I am the optimistic ITD’er after all.
Andre continues his very good overall play and the Dodgers offer him a guaranteed longterm extension in mid-season which Andre can’t turn down because of the security it represents. That’s how I’m going to assume it will play out.
Got to hit the hay…Go Dodgers!!!

Next in line for starter should someone get injured is Weaver. If its really early in the season and he’s still available, I think Pedro would get more than a sniff. What I believe though is that Ned thinks Schmidt will come to the rescue about June-July.

What I can’t understand is how you put together a first rate starting 8, then come up with Mota, Weaver, Wolf, Vargas, Milton, Estes, Sturtze, and the other no names, and be happy with the work you’ve done on the pitching staff.

Thanks for the free agent pitcher list Beav!!! Pretty Sad!!!! Just points out the fact that teams need to draft and develope pitching and make it a priority. I don’t see us doing anything until July and the trade deadline. I’m OK with that. Better deals to be had then.

Hey Trumom and D4!!!! I’m not ecstatic about the pitching staff but I’m also not terribly unhappy with it at this point. I’m willing to give it a couple of months and see what shakes out. Then we can make informed decisions and transactions to deal with it. I don’t want Ned out there shooting from the hip anymore. He misses badly!!!!!

Dear Rick Honeycutt,
Anybody can win with a bunch of Cy Young pitchers. What’s the fun in that? That’s why I feel so excited for you, given the golden opportunity Ned had afforded you in 2009. Just think, now you can exhibit your true teaching mettle, as well as showcase your vast pitching knowledge. Why, just look at the slugs, err, I mean talent Ned has assembled for you. What better forum to prove once and for all just how much positive influence you can exert on a ballclub, especially a contending one. That’s why it is with the utmost confidence that I say to you, “Rick, there’s no one I rather have molding the 2009 Dodger pitching staff than you. No one.” This is your lucky year, your moment to shine. I feel better already…………………………………….

I personally would be afraid and offended that it would be too much like a cult. I would have to come on and read the comments even though I did not like the conversation and then make a derogatory comment about it every 2 weeks or so. And then I would go off thinking that anyone gave a s**t about what I had to say.

The Tin Man: What have you learned, Ned?
Ned: Well, I – I think that it – it wasn’t enough to just want to sign Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones – and it’s that – if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own minor leagues. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with!

This is for Nellyjune……….Carne Asada Sunday with new host Andre Ethier will be held on may 3rd, following the game with the Padres. It is also Dre’s batting practice jersey day. (Jersey’s for kids only, damn)

I know……..isn’t that exciting!!! I don’t think I will be able to do that one though. We are already going to So-Cal for Spring Break and the weekend after that. Dodger Game on the 16th of April though ………against the evil Giants, which should prove to be interesting seeing how I can’t even sit in the same room with Michael when I watch them play at home. He may need his own ticket on the other side of Dodger Stadium (jk)…….just on the other end of the aisle should be far enough – LOL!!!

Gee Ned, do you really think we should sign a pitcher with a bad shoulder to a 3 year/45M deal?
Why, yes Frank, I know what I’m doing. Stan Conte said he was alright.
By the way, I just signed Juan Pierre for 5 years at 45M because Princess dumped us. I’m the new sheriff and I know what I’m doing!!!!

………Ned and JP himself, have made him absolutely untradeable in a sport that thrives on that one concept at times. We are going to sit here for three years with a player who is virtually untradeable in the eyes of 29 major league baseball teams. The only positive………look how much song writing material will be available to us if they don’t outright cut him loose.

There goes Wally and all his symbols again. The Kool-Aid has gotten to him too. Ward Dear must still be on the roof-top trying to figure out a way to get rid of Frank, Ned and possibly Joe all at once.

I’m ready Nelly. I have last season fresh in my mind. I came along around play off time. as far as ITD and all the access.
I spent the entire off season hanging around trying to find new stuff to get excited about. I was up when we signed Raffy, What a day i remember ned saying he didnt drink coffee. That had to be tireing. I drank a bunch. I was lobbying for Andre from the moment he posted on his blog, that we did’nt get the job done. I sat through all the Manny drama, Rooting persuading to the point that I was just worn out. Now here we are back at the Ravine. A solid team intact. I’m ready, I know alot of us are ready, it has been a wild off season.

That is true but the team is just about settled. And the games are in the big league park’s. I want to start winning and gelling as a team tommorrow. The Angels a good team and the cross town club. I want to win!!! The giants the longest rivalry in baseball and I want to win!!! The Brewers this is our house. The west coast belongs to us I want to win!!! It is time to gear our attitude towards many happy flights and the ultimate goal. The Rings!!!

Anything is possible, I think Kuroda looks good, so does Billz, Wolf and Kershaw. McDonald will have a break out season so much potential there. The bullpen will be a key but they will step it up. Lindblom was impressive to me.
The young guns could’nt ask for a better situation than this!! It is a graet team in the making.

The lineup, if it stays intact, has the perfect mix of “real” PVLs and young guns. The lineup has power up and down, with speed at the top with Furcal and Hudson and some in the middle with Kemp and Martin, not to mention the defense looks solid, beginning with our SP and ending with our outfielders (Matt and Andre) who are going to keep making it look easy to throw down a runner at home if need be. Dodger4life – if any season is primed for a great one, it’s got to be this one. Get the BP going and this team is definitely heading into October and bringing home a ring.

We have alot of potential Nelly. I believe that it will be reached. I’m sure the boys believe this also.
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This was the theme I played while waiting for Manny!!!
I still believe in all that is good.
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjtbhmQhsXg
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!

We all were behind the pay Andre chant. When it was all said and done I played this song. It has a good beat and I felt like it was party time.
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2-u6GYats
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!

Pierre talked about his situation without sounding resentful, which wasn’t the case a spring ago when he was made a bench player for the first time in his career. He explained that that’s because he believes that the people who are calling the shots aren’t really making any decisions.

“It’s all in God’s hands,” Pierre said. “He has me here for a reason. That’s how I’ve come to grips with not being in there every day.”

That doesn’t mean Pierre, who is in the third year of a five-year, $44-million contract, has abandoned hope of being granted the trade he requested last year.

“I just have to be patient,” he said. “I feel something will happen. I have faith that something will happen. Hopefully, sooner than later, but I’m prepared either way. I know the situation, pretty much, if I stay here. I just have to make the most of it.”

Sorry, but I think I missed the part about his #1 priority being to bring a championship to the Dodgers in 2009. CUT HIM and eat the contract.

Kahli ~ very interesting. I honestly hope his wish is granted and somebody takes him off our hands. He is NOT a team player. It’s all about ME, ME, ME. Don’t you have the feeling that he doesn’t think we can win the championship without him?

….can we trade or cut him loose already, and put us fans out of our misery so we don’t have to see him sulk around the dugout for THREE…..MORE……..VERY……LONG…….. YEARS!! PLEASE…. PLEASE….PLEEEEEEASE!!!!!

I know you already have your ring (and it’s the biggest and most expensive ring in Sports history. 13 rubies, 200-some-odd diamonds. 14 karat white gold with 18 karat gold inlay for the Marlins logo. An ultra-rare teal diamond for the eye of the Marlin). Congratulations. But that time has passed.

Ned Colletti signed you because he thought you wanted to be a Dodger. Put his neck on the line for a 5-year $45 million contract that would have many, if not all, in the baseball world shaking their heads in disbelief. But Frank and Ned believed in you.

Now, who knows if you ever wanted to be a Dodger. All you EVER talk about is how Juan Pierre is on the outside looking in. How Juan Pierre wants to be traded to a team where Juan Pierre can play everyday. And the new one, how Juan Pierre will get through this horrible life of getting paid millions of dollars to be a backup OFer with God’s help.

Where are the Dodgers in your consciousness, Juan Pierre?

Where is “for the good of the team”?

Where is “I’m putting the team ahead of myself”?

What message does this send to young Dodger fans, Juan Pierre? That “I” comes before the team?

I used to like your game, and what you represented. But now, I see that Juan Pierre doesn’t represent the Dodgers. Juan Pierre represents Juan Pierre the One-Time Champion Center Fielder.

But Juan Pierre didn’t get that ring for being Juan Pierre. Juan Pierre got that ring for being a Florida Marlin. Unless Juan Pierre could’ve beat the Giants, Cubs and Yankees in October on his own. But I’m guessing no.

Awesome post North!!! THAT ought to be sent directly to JP, Ned AND Frank.

LaPosta de Mesilla Nells – just off the plaza in old town Mesilla arcoss the street from what was the old courthouse where they once condemned Billy The Kid to hang. Nice restaurant, nice atmosphere – each dining area is decorated a little differently. Great empanadas. Good food, though I personally prefer Si Senor and Chilitos, maybe even El Comodore both on taste and price. If however you have out of town guests and had to choose one place, its the place you’d choose.

Good afternoon ITD and Go DODGERS! Finally..the first game at Dodger Stadium. I know it’s only an exhibition game but it should be fun to see the guys back home. I will be sitting in the Dugout section behind the enemy’s batting circle third row so look for me in my lucky shamrock Dodgers cap. I am so ecstatic.
How is everyone. I have been at work..very busy..so I have not been able to keep in touch. I feel exhausted today but a good exhausted. I have 3 games to look forward to. I am humming “I love LA” all day and hope we will be singing that after the game today.
Who all is going to the 3 games???? Facebook me so I’ll know.
Everyone have a good evening and I will be keeping in toiuch trublue, Dodger4life, Nellyjune with my various communication devices.
Yaaaaay, I live for baseball!!!!! C ya later.

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